RE is key to helping young people grow up in today’s multi-faith, diverse and connected world. RE aims to give pupils opportunities to develop their knowledge and understanding of religion and beliefs and to contribute to the development of their own beliefs and values. Children and young people have an entitlement to receive RE at all Key Stages. Everyone has their unique view of the world and RE is about exploring these views. RE can be taught using exciting and rigorous methodologies by teachers with a variety of backgrounds and viewpoints in a way that is relevant to all pupils.

Cumbria Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education, 2017

RE Curriculum Intent

Thomlinson Junior School believes that every child should have the right to a curriculum that champions excellence; supporting pupils in achieving to the very best of their abilities. Children will be given the opportunity to explore a range of different world faiths and will show respect to others as well as being able to share their own viewpoints in a respectful manner. Our teaching enables children to extend their own sense of values and promotes their spiritual growth and development. We encourage children to think about their own views and values in relation to the themes and topics studied in the RE curriculum.

Our teaching and learning styles in RE supports our children in building on their own experiences and extending their knowledge and understanding of religious traditions. We use their exploration of religious festivals (such as Easter, Diwali, Passover), to develop religious thinking and tolerance. We organise visits to local places of worship and invite representatives of local religious groups to come into school and talk to the children.
 

RE Curriculum Implementation

As a school, we have chosen the Discovery Jigsaw scheme of learning which supports the Cumbria Agreed Syllabus from Year 3 to Year 6. The scheme of work supports our teachers in delivering fun and engaging lessons which help to raise standards and allow all pupils to achieve to their full potential. The scheme is an enquiry-based approach. Each enquiry is led by a question linked to the religion and can take several lessons to complete. Each enquiry is split into 4 sections- engagement, investigation, evaluation and expression.  Each year group will study Christianity as well as at least one other world faith. Our Year group coverage is as follows:

• Year 3 - Christianity and Hinduism
• Year 4 - Christianity, Buddhism and Judaism
• Year 5 - Christianity and Sikhism
• Year 6 - Christianity and Islam
   

RE Curriculum Impact

Children’s work is assessed informally by the teacher during lessons. Teacher’s mark their work and give verbal feedback as well as assessing children against the enquiry question. Children are encouraged to discuss and reflect on their thoughts and views and these also contribute to the child’s assessment. A judgement is also made and reported to parents in their school report. 

Inclusion in RE

At Thomlinson Junior School, we aim to enable all children to achieve their full potential. This includes children of all abilities, social and cultural backgrounds, those with disabilities, EAL speakers and SEN statement and non-statemented. 

RE is taught in accordance with the Cumbrian syllabus. Assemblies feature a spiritual element. They form an important part of the school day and are usually led by the Headteacher, the Deputy Head, or another senior staff member, with other gatherings occasionally conducted by visiting guests. Children also take part in and produce their own Assemblies to which parents are often invited.

It should be stressed that the our approach is, whilst nondenominational, mainly Christian in content, though the school does aim to engender a respect and understanding of the moral values and ideas of other faiths.

If you are unhappy with Religious Assemblies forming part of your child’s day you may request their withdrawal. The school is happy to make special arrangements for your child, but cannot offer alternative religious studies.